Wurstküche will open this summer in former Rockaway Tavern space

Almost two years after they purchased the building at 2036 Broadway that had most recently housed the Rockaway Tavern and Triangle Denver before that, the owners of Wurstküche, a Los Angeles-based concept that combines exotic sausages with a beer hall, are slated to open their Denver location in July -- and they're moving a lot of dirt to make it happen. See also:Wurstkuche buys Rockaway Tavern building

There are two Wurstküche locations in California. The name is German for "sausage kitchen," and the restaurants serve a number of sausage sandwiches, including classics like bratwurst and bockwurst, as well as such gourmet versions as mango jalapeno and kielbasa, duck and bacon with jalapenos, and rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapenos. The lineup also focuses on fries with home-made dipping sauces, along with beer. Lots of beer.

Joseph Pitruzzelli, who co-owns Wurstküche with his cousin Tyler Wilson, says the Denver building is being totally gutted. The basement was excavated to make way for a separate bar that will be accessed through an entrance in the alleyway. A two-story building, outdoor patio and garden space is also in the works for the adjoining lot.

According to Pitruzzelli, the original triangle-shaped building on Broadway is almost identical in dimensions to the partners' two restaurants in downtown Los Angeles and Venice Beach. Here are the plans for the new place;

Jon Solomon writes about music and nightlife for Westword and has been the Clubs Editor for the paper since 2006. He's also worked in music supervision for film and was managing editor of Color Red magazine. Solomon hopes to one day shake the hand of Tom Waits.